Margaret Thatcher

Profession:British Prime MinisterWhy Famous:First female British Prime Minister, known as 'The Iron Lady'. While in office her policies became known as Thatcherism, with an emphasis on deregulation, free markets and the privatization of state-owned companies. While support for her government fell in the first term due to high unemployment and recession, her victory in the 1982 Falklands War with Argentina brought her into power in the following year's election.

On the international stage she remained skeptical of the European Community and forged a close ideological alliance with US President Ronald Reagan. After re-election for a third term in 1987, Thatcher's position on the European Community caused a split in her cabinet and her 'poll tax' Community Charge was widely unpopular. She was forced to resign in 1990 after challenges to her leadership of the party by senior Conservatives.